Gregg Popovich announced the next step of his career on Friday.

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The Spurs head coach was named USA Basketball men’s national team head coach by chairman Jerry Colangelo, per NBA.com. He will assume the role in 2017, through 2020, seeing him in charge at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China and the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Japan.

At last, the motives behind Becky Hammon’s grooming were finally revealed.

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Hammon was hired by Popovich as a full-time assistant for the 2014-15 season. She went on to lead the Spurs to the NBA’s Summer League championship in July, forcing many executives to reassess her credentials.

“She has the qualities necessary, and with an organization's backing, she could do it [coach in the NBA],” one Eastern Conference executive said, per CBS Sports. “She's obviously learned under the best."

“She would be high on my list. She's short-list worthy,” another Eastern Conference executive said.

Unfortunately for them, Hammon won’t be leaving the Western Conference.

By 2017, Popovich will be pushing 68. Balancing a full-time NBA job is already taxing enough. Asking him to do so -- in addition to coaching internationally -- is inconceivable for a man of his age.

Popovich made his name being two steps ahead of the competition. He was three steps ahead of the competition with Hammon all along.

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